January 2025

Utah Disability Today

The official newsletter of the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice
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Phone: (435) 797-1981
You received this monthly newsletter because you are a friend of the Institute for Disability. Keep reading for news, resources, events, and job openings!

NEWS

portraits of Jared Smith and Cyndi Rowland

WebAIM Celebrates 25 Years of Improving Information Access


Over the past quarter-century, WebAIM has provided the free WAVE tool for evaluating accessibility; offered training to web designers in business, government and education; launched a discussion list; and run numerous surveys to ensure the advice they were giving was in line with the needs of users with disabilities.


But the idea started out on the fringe. Read about WebAIM's impact on the world on our blog.

Portraits of Brinley Jones, Janeal Dugmore, Ryan Kwak, Tricia Jones-Parkin, Brad Rieben

IDRPP Honors Spirit of Service and Mentoring Awardees


These are people who show up and do what needs to be done, who go the extra mile without being asked, who are tireless workers, but whose efforts largely go unrecognized. These people are self-starters, provide quality services/supports to stakeholders and clients, and are always looking for ways to make a difference. These are the people who make an impact, but maybe aren't as visible as they should be. 

2025 disability advocacy day logo

Self-advocates, families and professionals: Join us for Disability Advocacy Day 2025! This virtual event offers an overview of the current state of the Utah 2025 Legislative Session and advocacy training. Following the event, we encourage attendees to attend the LCPD Reception at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City.

Learn More & Register

We Are On Bluesky!


The Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice is now on Bluesky! Here is the link to our profile.

LinkedIn Reimagined


We are refocusing our approach to LinkedIn. Our LinkedIn will now focus on news about: Webinars, Trainings, Resources, and Company Updates. If you haven't followed our LinkedIn page, you can do so here.

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These 10-minute guided meditations are offered freely and those interested can sign up here. The dates and times can be found through the sign up link.

CAREERS WITHIN IDRPP


Visit the Work With Us page on our website!

For a look at past ECHO sessions, visit our YouTube channel.

EVENTS

Utah Women and Newborns Quality Collaborative

Time to Act ECHO: Substance Abuse

January 8th

Find out more & register on the Time to Act ECHO: Substance Abuse website.

FREE


Effective Instruction Techniques, Prompting, Fading

Saturday Mornings with the NRCP (National Resource Center for Paraeducators, Related Service Providers, & Interviewers)

January 11th

Find out more on the NRCP website & register here.

$25


Accessibility in Technology Procurement and Use

WebAIM

January 14th

Find out more & register on the WebAIM website.

$200 (group discount available)


ACRE Employment Specialist Training - Salt Lake

Center for Employment and Inclusion

January 14-16th

Find out more & register on the CEI Website.

$300


Ongoing Trauma

Time to Act ECHO: Mental Health

January 15th

Find out more & register on the Time to Act ECHO: Mental Health website.

FREE


Workplace Supports Training - Salt Lake

Center for Employment and Inclusion

January 15th

Find out more & register on the CEI Website.

$50


Competitive Employment: If Not Now, When? If Not Us, Who?

Center for Employment and Inclusion

January 22nd

Find out more & register on the CEI Website.

FREE

Physical Development in Autism

Autism ECHO

January 22nd

Find out more & register on the Autism ECHO website.

FREE

Healthy Communications

Healthy Relationships for Adults with Disabilities ECHO

January 27th

Find out more & register Project ECHO website.

FREE


HOME Program U of U

MHIDD ECHO

January 27th

Find out more & register on the MHIDD website.

FREE


Virtual Web Accessibility Training

WebAIM

January 29-30th

Find out more & register on the WebAIM website.

$500 (group discount available)


How to have difficult conversations with families

Early ECHO

February 5th

Find out more & register on the Early ECHO website.

FREE

News From Around IDRPP

student present on IDRPP research at USU's library

We are proud of student employees Lindy Strand and Abby Julian, who presented on research from our Center for Mental Health Promotion during USU's 2024 Fall Student Research Symposium.


We also took a look back at 2024 and awarded the first-ever Reelies for the most-viewed, most-liked, funniest and best overall Instagram reels produced here at IDRPP. Here's a recap!


And thanks to all our work family who attended our Winter Luncheon! We know some of you came from far away, and it was great to see your faces in person!

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